UPCOMING EVENTS

Google is preparing to build a huge antenna farm in Iowa, just a short drive from Kansas City, where the company is rolling out its high-speed Internet project, Google Fiber.

The search company, which lately has been focusing on super-fast Internet as a public utility, is seeking to build an array of antennae with access to satellite transmissions, specifically a C-band, receive-only earth station and a Ku-band, receive-only earth station.

The proposed site for the antenna farm is in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where Google already has a local presence in the form of a data center. A Google rep confirmed to VentureBeat via email, “We are building a very small earth station project that is right next to our data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.”

The company’s application to build the antenna farm was submitted to the FCC [PDF] last week, and at least three more weeks will pass before the FCC makes any decision on the application.

The Google Fiber project is an ambitious attempt to bring gigabit connectivity to homes, schools, and offices around the world. Many Mountain View residents enjoy the super-fast service.

Kansas City recently won a bid to become the next Google Fiber-enabled community. Google announced the partnership with the city back in May; by the end of July, engineers were surveying the area. Construction on the Google Fiber project in Kansas City began earlier this month after months of preparations.